Rich Clarke on Hiding His Identity, Hitting Rock Bottom, and Coming Out

Hurt to Healing · 2025-07-08

44:12

In this special Pride Week episode, I sit down with broadcaster Rich Clarke for a deeply personal conversation about identity, authenticity, and the toll of hiding in plain sight. Rich shares his journey of navigating a high-profile media career while carrying a secret identity, and how years of masking his true sexuality led to burnout, breakdown, and ultimately, a turning point.

We explore what it really means to come out — not just to the world, but to ourselves — and how the weight of shame, fear, and societal expectation can shape (and limit) our lives. From therapy and sobriety to standing on stage at Brighton Pride and finally saying, “I’m gay,” Rich reflects on what healing has looked like for him, and why connection, honesty, and self-compassion are essential to moving forward.

Find Rich Clarke:

Instagram: @therichclarke

Listen to This Was Always Me Podcast: https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42L3VY/

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Hurt to Healing

Welcome to the Hurt to Healing podcast with me, Pandora Morris. I’ve been fighting an uphill battle with my mental health for years and it’s only now that I’ve started to see some glimmers of light. It’s almost unbelievable to think I am starting this podcast considering my incessant compulsions would normally try to talk me out of it. But here I am, continuing to fight my invisible bullies one day at a time.

As part of my own recovery, I’ve made it my mission to support as many of you as possible on your own healing journey. I’ll be speaking to wonderful people from all walks of life who will open up about their own invisible struggles in the hope that it will provide a bit of solace and comfort for some of you. I’ll also be speaking to leading experts and doctors about different disorders and therapies that might help each of you expand your knowledge on the world of mental health.

Visit my website www.hurttohealing.co.uk to learn more about me and the work that I do.

Produced by Rutherford Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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